The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-02

the presbytery, ten days before the meeting
of the presbytery, which was held in Edge
| field, S. G. Of the action of that presbytel'y
and others it is not necessary to speak, but
the following extract will show how their
| action was regarded by the church:
From the report of a committee OF pew hold,
ers Of the Independent Presbyterian Church
of which Oliver Sturges was chairman. ap'
pointed by the pew holders OF the church 10 in.
quire into the facts concerning the acton OF
Harmony PreSbyteTy at White Blum, IN reIer-
ence 10 DR.. Kollock, and bearing date Jan. Z,
1915. Said report being among the records OF
the Trustees in 1885.
The committee commence their report by
saying
1T IS recollected by a majority OF those to
whom this report is submitted, that AZ meeting
Of the members and pew holders Of this church,
on May "a, 1914, after full deliberations on Ger
tain proceedings of the Presbytery OF HARMONY
they did resolve that this church was in its
original foundation aud establishment, and by
its renewed charter hath continued 10 be an In
dependent church, totally free from the S-
perintendcnue, control, authority or interior
ence of any presbytery whatever either III rela
ton TO the pastor Of the said church, or any of
its concerns. That the pretended act dcposi-
tion Of the said Presbytery of Harmony in so
far as the same relates TO the pastor of this
church, its trustees, pew holders, or the sup
porters hereof is utterly null and void and OF
none effect" etc.
All this occurred before the present edfce
was built. That was finished in 1919, and
dedicated by DR.. Kollock on May 10, 1919.
DR.. Kollock died on Dec %. of that same
year. Eight years now elapse before there
is trouble in the CHI rch-concening this
trouble, its cause, etc, perhaps nothing had
better be said. There were some, however,
who were defeated at certain election, and
they were the leaders of the party that left
this church to establish what is called the
First Presbyterian church, called by that
name probably. because it was the first and
only Presbyterian church connected with
any presbytery. Another proof, if one be
needed, TO establish our perpetual independ-
ence This occurred in 1927, eight years
nearly after the death of Dr. Kollock.
The following extract from the letter of
one of the first members of that church will
show plainly what followed the disagree
ment following the election. THE First
Presbyterian church was formed in the fall
of 1927. Some OF the members of the indie
pendent Presbyterian church became dis
satisfied with their church government and
resolved TO Secede, and form Presbyterian
church governed by presbytery. The
names of these persons who seeded were
Mr.. Joseph Cumming father of the late
Wallace Cumming, a deacon in the
church, DR.. Coppee, Mr.. Geo. FAIRIES, Mr.
Lowell Mason, with their families Miss May
Lavender joined from the Methodist church,,
Capt. Crabtree and family, Mr.. Wells, my
self, and others whose names do not recol-
lect. The first preacher do not recollect,
but | think 1T was Rev. Mr.. Boggs VINO
taught school at that time. In 1929 DR..
Joseph Stiles was our pastor Our
place of meeting was in large building on
Broughton street, upstairs, known as
Lyceum Hall. From that time to the pres
ent the history of both churches is well
known.
From the above it is plainly established
First, that this Independent Presbyterian
church tGds founded in the early days of the
Colony of Georgia.
Second, that it always has been an indie
pendent church.
Third, that the First church seeded from
this church in 1897.
Fourth, that the church never withdrew
from the presbytery because it never was
connected with one.
Fifth, that the church always has been
Presbyterian, governed by its own presby-
tiers or bench of elders, and not Congrega-
tional. In fact, when this church was
founded there was no presbytery here for it
to belong to, but that did not make it Con-
gregational.
/ shall be pleased to present cat
and address mot through the paper,
for l shall not appear there again,
copy of the book containing grant,
charter and all information, including the
letter from one of the founders of the First
Presbyterian church. where the action of
those founders is spoken Of by one of tn il
number as seeding from the Independent
Presbyterian church.
Hoping you will pardon this lengthy COM
munication, which | assure you is only
written to set those interested right on facts
substantiated, Endorsed and published by au-
thority of the officers of the church, and
with the assurance that l shall not again
take up my pen on this subject.
j. ]. SToDDARD.